stumble upon something surprising

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stumble upon something surprising" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing an unexpected discovery or encounter with something that catches you off guard. Example: "While exploring the old library, I stumbled upon something surprising: a hidden room filled with ancient manuscripts."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

You can come up with something a bit out of the box but stumble upon something very attractive".

The New York Times - Sports

If in that process you stumble upon something truly original, wonderful.

The Washington Post

Which is why, when you stumble upon something you can do, you do it".

The Guardian - Books

"As long as you keep trying, you will eventually stumble upon something that works".

TechCrunch

Subscription members can get discounts on full bottles if they stumble upon something that piques their interest.

TechCrunch

Once you stumble upon something that you're passionate about, get started.

Huffington Post

If you do stumble upon something I really like, please keep doing it.

Huffington Post

At the gates of Peckham Rye Station, I stumble upon something capable of resolving my curiosity.

Vice

How fortunate I was, growing tired of play one sultry afternoon, to stumble upon something more esoteric.

Huffington Post

We might even see someone we know or stumble upon something interesting along the way.

WikiHow

Just as the name implies, it's when you become aware of or stumble upon something--discover it.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stumble upon something surprising" to add an element of serendipity to your writing, suggesting an unplanned and delightful discovery. This phrase is effective when you want to emphasize the unexpected nature of an event or finding.

Common error

While effective, the phrase can become cliché if used too frequently. Vary your language by using synonyms like "discover unexpectedly" or "chance upon" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stumble upon something surprising" functions as a compound verb phrase where "stumble upon" acts as a phrasal verb indicating an accidental discovery, and "something surprising" serves as the object of this verb, describing the nature of the unexpected finding. Ludwig indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stumble upon something surprising" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe an unexpected and often pleasant discovery. Although Ludwig confirms its correctness, the phrase is currently missing from Ludwig's extensive database, so its frequency in different contexts could not be determined. While versatile, it's important to avoid overuse by considering synonyms like "discover unexpectedly" or "chance upon" to maintain writing freshness. It serves to highlight the serendipitous nature of finding something interesting without actively searching for it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

chance upon something remarkable

Uses "chance upon" as a substitute for "stumble upon" and "remarkable" for "surprising", indicating a noteworthy discovery.

unexpectedly come across something phenomenal

Replaces "stumble upon" with "unexpectedly come across" and "surprising" with "phenomenal", emphasizing the sudden encounter with something extraordinary.

find something amazing by chance

Replaces "stumble upon" with "find by chance" and "surprising" with "amazing", focusing on the element of serendipity and the positive nature of the discovery.

come across an unforeseen delight

Replaces "stumble upon" with "come across" and "something surprising" with "an unforeseen delight", emphasizing the unexpected and pleasing nature of the discovery.

discover something astonishing unexpectedly

Substitutes "stumble upon" with "discover unexpectedly", emphasizing the astonishment associated with the finding.

accidentally uncover something startling

Replaces "stumble upon" with "accidentally uncover" and "surprising" with "startling", emphasizing the accidental nature and the shock of the discovery.

find an unanticipated marvel

Uses "find" instead of "stumble upon" and "an unanticipated marvel" in place of "something surprising", highlighting the unexpected and wondrous nature of the discovery.

encounter an unexpected revelation

Replaces "stumble upon" with "encounter" and "something surprising" with "an unexpected revelation", highlighting the revelatory nature of the discovery.

unearth an unexpected wonder

Substitutes "stumble upon" with "unearth" and "something surprising" with "an unexpected wonder", suggesting a delightful and unforeseen discovery.

inadvertently reveal something astonishing

Substitutes "stumble upon" with "inadvertently reveal" and "surprising" with "astonishing", focusing on the unintentional revelation of something amazing.

FAQs

What does "stumble upon something surprising" mean?

The phrase "stumble upon something surprising" means to find or discover something unexpected and often delightful or interesting, typically by accident or without actively searching for it.

What can I say instead of "stumble upon something surprising"?

You can use alternatives like "discover something astonishing", "chance upon something remarkable", or "come across an unforeseen delight" depending on the context.

How do I use "stumble upon something surprising" in a sentence?

You can use the phrase to describe an unexpected finding. For example: "While cleaning the attic, I stumbled upon something surprising: a box of old letters."

Is it ever incorrect to use "stumble upon something surprising"?

While grammatically correct, the phrase may not be suitable in formal or highly technical writing where a more precise and less idiomatic expression might be preferred. Consider alternatives like "discover unexpectedly" in such contexts.